HP Boosts Digital Creativity by Fusing Z Book Capabilities with Print and Packaging Possibilities

At Adobe MAX, HP Inc. announced a new push to deliver the next generation of technology solutions for creative professionals. HP is combining its Z by HP portfolio of high-performance computing systems with its print and packaging capabilities to curate new experiences for creators. 

“Today’s creatives need specialized tools and solutions to help them stay in the creative zone, increase their productivity and create whenever and wherever inspiration strikes,” says Xavier Garcia, vice president and general manager, Z by HP, HP Inc. “We are listening to the needs of creative pros and investing in innovation that makes it easier for them to unleash their creativity. With the most powerful hardware, feature-rich software and services, as well as innovative programs for creators, HP is reinventing the way the world creates.”

The new Z by HP portfolio including ZBook mobiles, Z desktops like the HP Z2 Mini or the HP Z8, and the HP DreamColor displays deliver productivity, versatility and security, according to HP. The HP ZBook Studio, HP ZBook Studio x360, HP ZBook 15 and HP ZBook 17 have been enhanced with greater processing power, innovative security features and bright displays. The performance increase, with six-core Intel Core i9 processors, will enable creatives to tackle heavier workloads, such as video editing and 3D rendering.

The expanded memory option up to 32 GB of memory (expandable up to 128 GB depending on model1) allows users to work faster with large amounts of data. New security feature RAID 1 gives users mirrored solid-state drive storage, providing back up for data. Also, both the HP ZBook Studio and Studio x360, gain a boost in graphics performance to render and edit with the NVIDIA Quadro P2000 graphics card. 

With the HP ZBook Studio x360, a convertible PC, users can reimagine the creative process with a laptop and a tablet. HP ZBook Studio x360 features a new optional anti-glare touchscreen, allowing users to work outdoors or in bright lighting situations, as well as enhanced durability with the latest generation Corning Gorilla Glass. The immersive HP DreamColor anti-glare display supports 100% Adobe RGB, has 600 nits of brightness. 

“With HP bringing new powerful options to the Adobe community, creatives can select from a range of new products that best fit their digital workflows,” says Bryan Lamkin, executive vice president and general manager, Digital Media at Adobe. “The combination of Adobe Creative Cloud and Z by HP hardware and HP printing products will help our community continue to push the boundaries of their creativity.”

Z Club for Elite Creators 

HP also announced Z Club, an exclusive program for creators to upgrade their studios. A group of 100 creative professionals will be selected as initial members and will be outfitted with custom-made photographer, video editor, graphic designer or artist bundles. HP will take the guesswork away from finding the right tools by providing a tailored hardware and services solution to meet the needs of each creator’s specific workflow. 

HP will provide this bundle free of charge for three months, encouraging creators to experience the full capabilities of Z. For the first time, HP will offer a subscription-based hardware and services bundle for these creative customers. For a monthly fee, the Z Club will provide computers bundled with pro-grade displays, printers and accessories. Additionally, HP experts will be available to help members.  

Creative with HP SmartStream Designer for Designers 

HP is announcing global availability for HP SmartStream Designer for Designers (D4D), a new plug-in for Adobe Illustrator CC. HP SmartStream D4D is a suite of “light” design solutions to enable designers to customize and personalize any design through the use of variable text, color and images. In addition, the HP SmartStream Mosaic feature within the D4D software allows designers to create seed files, which can be infinitely manipulated through the use of algorithms to create unique outcomes in real time. HP SmartStream D4D is now available as a free download plug-in app, for both Mac and PC platforms, on Adobe Exchange. 

“HP Digital print has the ability to make packaging and print more agile and limitless, but until now there has been a gap between concept and creation,” says Nancy Janes, global head of brand innovation, HP Inc. “With HP SmartStream D4D, designers can for the first time, play with the powerful software in Adobe Illustrator CC to create memorable and impactful packaging campaigns for global and local brands.”

HP SmartStream D4D is debuting at Adobe MAX 2018 in HP’s booth. HP will also host several sessions with the creative community to illustrate how the agility of digital print is changing the way brands and designers are making every day unique. 

Pricing and Availability

• The HP ZBook Studio x360 starts at $1,499.

• The HP ZBook Studio starts at $1,349.

• The HP ZBook 15 starts at $1,349.

• The HP ZBook 17 starts at $1,349.

Sources: Press materials received from the company.